Sign construction



013L14 1958 I c, ANBLQQM 2,855,711

SIGN CONSTRUCTION Filed March 31, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 24 INVENTOR.

' 1477' OEA/E K Oct. 14, 1958 c; A.'B LOOM 2,355,711

SIGN "CONSTRUCTION 7 Filed March 31, 1954 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 CECIL A.5100M.

IN V EN. TOR.

SIGN CONSTRUCTION Cecil A. Bloom, South Bend, Ind., assignor to SouthBend Metal Products Company, South Bend, Ind., a copartnershipApplication March 31, 1954, Serial No. 420,058

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-140 This invention relates to improvements in signconstructions, and more particularly to signs which are used in ofiicesupon desks and, in other business establishmerits, upon counters ormounted upon a wall or other support.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel, simple andinexpensive device which is attractive in appearance and in which signcharacters are mounted interchangeably so that the information or nameappearing upon the sign may be changed rapidly and easily.

A further object is to provide a device of this character wherein a pairof guide members detachably mount between them a plurality of smallplates, each bearing one or more letters, figures or other indicia,cooperating to convey information, and held in selected position bynovel detachable latching means.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a pairof end members connected by a pair of guide bars to receive slidablysmall plate members spanning said guide members and attractivelybordered thereby, wherein at least one of said end members has I anopening therein between said bars to accommodate the insertion andremoval of said plates and to receive and support a retainer adjustableto a position maintaining said plates in edge engagement.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a pairof end members connected by a pair of spaced guide bars grooved toreceive the marginal portions of indicia-bearing members, wherein one ofsaid guide bars is notched to accommodate the lateral application ofindicia-bearing members into interlocking engagement with said guidemembers, and wherein a resilient retainer cooperates with said parts tohold the same with said indicia-bearing members in edge engagement andto position the indicia bearing members adjacent said notch in a mannerto prevent the release of the indicia-bearing members through the slot.

Other objects will be apparent from the following specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l; j I

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal transverse sectional view taken online 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a spring-retainer member usable in theFig. 1 and Fig. 5 embodiments;

Fig. 7 is a rear perspective view illustrating another embodiment of theinvention and showing parts thereof in section;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken On line 3--% of Fig. 7;

.. ited States Patent 0 Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the retainerused in the Fig. 7 embodiment;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary perspective view of a guide bar used in theFig. 7 embodiment; and

Fig. 11 is a vertical transverse sectional view of another modifiedembodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 to 4, whichillustrate one embodiment of the invention, the numerals 20 and 22designate end members which are interconnected by spaced parallel guidemembers 24. The end members 20, 22 are formed of wood, metal, plastic,or any other material found suitable, and may be of any shape desired,it being understood that the shape of the two opposite end members willbe substantially similar as far as overall outline thereof iscon cerned.The triangular form here illustrated is particularly well suited for usein signs which are to be mounted upon desks and counters and in which itis desired to have. the legible face of the sign lie in a verticallyinclined plane. The guide bars 24 are preferably of substantiallyuniform cross-sectional shape at all their length, and each thereof hasa longitudinal groove 26 formed therein. Each of the end members 20 and22 has a pair of apertures 28 therein to snugly receive the end portionsof guide bars 24. The apertures 28 may receive 7 the guide bars 24 witha snug or pressed fit such that the parts are held firmly in selectedassembled position as is possible in cases where the end members areformed of substantial thickness. It will be understood, however, thatthe guide members may be secured in the openings 28 by any means foundsuitable, such as by set screws, escutcheon pins, cement or the like.Also, it will be understood that the openings in the end mem-' bers 20and 22 which receive the end portions of the guide bars 24 need notextend completely through said end members, and, instead, may simplyconstitute recesses to receive the end portions of said guide members.The end member 20 is additionally provided with a slot 30 extendingtherethrough and being of a width greater than the width of the groove26 of the guide members 24 but preferably less than the overall width ofthe guide bars 24.

A plurality of rectangular rigid members 32, which preferably arevertically elongated, are provided for mounting in the structure betweenthe guide members 24. The vertical or major dimension of each of themembers 32 is greater than the spacing between the guide bars 24 andsuch that the opposite marginal portions thereof may fit slidably in thegrooves 26. The members 32 will be. of a thickness slightly less thanthe width of the grooves '26 as necessary to accommodate sliding, butpreferably the play between these parts will be small enough to preventdisalignment or chattering or excessive looseness of the members 32. Themembers 32 need not-be of the same width and, instead, may be formed intwo or three standard widths. A plurality of the members 32 will beprovided, making up a set or kit. Some of the members of this set willhave indicia appearlng thereon, as at 34. The indicia may consist of aletter of the alphabet, a numeral, a punctuation mark, a symbol, or anabbreviation. One or more indicia may appear on each of the plates 32,but I prefer to limit the number to one indicia per plate in mostinstances. The indicia 34 may be painted, impressed, cast, embossed,engraved, stenciled or otherwise applied to the plates 32, and willpreferably be so positioned thereon as to be aligned with the indicia ofthe other plates when mounted in the frame, as shown in Fig. 1. Theplates 32 are preferably of at least three selected sizes so that eachcharacter may be applied to a member whose width corresponds to thewidth of the character, and thereby insure substantially uniform spacingbetween adjacent characters or letters employed to spell a word or tomake up a number or other matter of information. It will be understood,further, that each set will preferably include a number of plain orblank plates 36 which may be employed to provide spaces between words,and which also may be of different widths if desired.

Retainer means are employed to hold the plates 32, 36 in desiredposition and to retain them against release from the unit. As hereillustrated this retainer means may consist of a resilient member orspring plate 38 of substantially rectangular shape whose vertical ormajor dimension is preferably slightly greater than the spacing betweenthe bottoms or inner ends of the confronting groove 26 of the guidemembers 24, so that the central portion thereof at 40, as illustrated inFig. 2, is deflected out of the plane of the grooves and of the platemembers 32 and preferably into engagement with the edge of the opening30 when the spring member is inserted in the opening 30 with its marginseated in said grooves 26. This arrangement is best illustrated in Fig.2 and insures a suificient frictional engagement of the spring at thegrooves, and preferably also at the opening 30, to resist displacementthereof accidentally but at the same time to accommodate removal thereofwhen it is desired to remove the members 32 for the purpose of changingthe sign. It will be apparent that the member 38 may be positioned atany point or location desired at the end portions of the guide members24, so that variations in the total length of the assembled plates 32and 36 required to set out selected information upon the sign may beaccommodated. At the same time, if the end members, and particularly themember 20, are of sufficient width or thickness, the spring member maybe concealed within the overall width or outline of the member 20, so asto be out of view and so as to avoid distraction from a uniform andattractive appearance of the sign when assembled. The spring actionwill, of course, be sufficiently strong to permit the sign to be handledfor movement from place to place during normal usage without release ofthe members 32 from firm abutting relation. It will also be understoodthat in instances where openings 30 are formed in each of the endmembers 20, 22, spring members 38 may be provided at each end member. Itis preferred, however, that only one of the end members will be providedwith an opening, and that the other end member, such as the member 22,will be continuous across the space between the ends of the guide bars24 adjacent thereto so as to form a stop or abutment against which theendmost of the plate members 32, 36 may abut and be positioned. It willalso be understood that mechanical securing means may be employed ofother forms than the form shown, such as set screws (not shown) mountedin the member 20 to bear against a member mounted in the opening 30 andbearing against the edge of the adjacent one of the plates 32, 36.

The device is well suited for use in connection with signs which are tobe afiixed to walls of buildings or the like, and a construction of thischaracter is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. In this instance the endmembers are preferably of substantially rectangular shape. These endmembers are provided with openings or sockets 28 to receive the ends ofthe guide members 24 and may also have openings 30 therein or in at leat one thereof between the members 24. Indicia-bearing plates 32 aresnugly and slidably received between the grooves of the guide members 24to be firmly supported in coplanar relation by said guide members in thesame manner as in the Fig. 1 embodiment. The spring 38 fits in thegrooves 26 of the guide bars 24, as previously explained. Means areprovided to anchor the end members to a. Wall or supporting surface andare here shown asone or more screws 42 passed through suitableopeningsin the end members and adapted to secure anchoragein a wall orother supporting structure. The location of the screw holes in the endmembers may be varied at will. In one form, such screw holes may beformed in portions of the end members above and below the upper andlower guide rails 24, respectively. I have selected for illustration,however, a construction in which the securing means is located betweenthe guide bars 24. In order to accommodate the screw at this location Iprefer to provide the spring 38 with an elongated opening 44 to receivethe screw with clearance. By this arrangement the indicia members 32 arepositively confined in the sign structure and cannot be removed withoutreleasing or removing the sign from its support or at least withoutremoving one securing screw 42. At the same time, the elongated opening44 accommodates variations of the position of the spring 38 as requiredby the total length of the assembled plates 32 of different signsubjects. It will be understood, of course, that the central location ofthe screw 42 does not necessarily require slotting of the spring 38 andthat the spring may be positioned in inwardly disposed relation from thescrew. Alternately, the spring 38 may be omitted completely and anyother spacer means found suitable may be employed to hold the plates 32in edge abutment.

Another alternative construction is illustrated in Figs. 7 to 10. Inthis construction the spaced rigid grooved guide bars 24 are supportedby and serve to interconnect the end members 20 and 22, as abovedescribed, and also serve to receive and support in coplanar relationthe rigid rectangular panels or plates 32. At least one of the endmembers, such as the end member 20, will have an access slot 30 therein.One of the guide bars may be cut away at 27 for a portion of its lengthgreater than the width of the widest panel 32 at one only of the sidesor ribs defining the groove 26. This cut-away will preferably be formedadjacent to one of the two end members, and preferably adjacent to theend member 29. By means of this arrangement it is possible to insert themembers 32 into the guide bar grooves and to remove them therefromwithout necessitating their passage through the end slot 30 in the endmember. The cut-away will preferably be formed at the rear so that it isnot visible when the sign is viewed normally. It will be understood thatinsertion of the panels 32 is accomplished by first inserting onemarginal edge of the panel 32 in the groove of the unnotched guide bar24 opposite the cut-away 27 and then swinging the panel in a directiontransversely of the bar to cause the free end of the panel to swing intothe cut-away 27 and thence into the groove 26, whereupon it may be slidlengthwise of the guide bars to desired position.

In order to retain panel or panels located adjacent to the cut-away 27,the retainer member illustrated in Fig. 9 may be employed. This retaineressentially consists of the rectangular spring plate 50 centrally offsetat 52 and having an arm or extension 54 projecting perpendicularlytherefrom at its offset 52. The parts are so proportioned that theprojection 54 may pass behind the panels 32. Consequently, theprojection 54 provides means to prevent the panels 32 registering withthe cut-away 27 from moving into and through said cut-away and frombeing discharged or released from the guide bars. By the use of thisconstruction the parts are held effectively in assembled sign-formingrelation but can be disassembled by removing the retainer. After removalof the retainer through the passage 30, removal of the remaining members32 can be accomplished without passing through the opening 30 in the endmember 20.

In some instances it may be desirable to provide a sign in which aplurality of rows of panels are employed. Fig. 11 illustrates the mannerin which that arrangement can be accommodated. In this instance the endmembers 60 will be of a dimension and shape long enough to mount aplurality of guide bars 24 and 25. The guide bars 24 will be located atthe top and bottom of the device. The guide bars 25 will be locatedbetween the top and bottom bars. The bars 25 will be characterized byformation of two slots 26 therein, preferably in diametrically opposedrelation as illustrated. This construction possesses all of theadvantages of the construction previously described, and in additionpresents a very attractive appearance, due to the separation of adjacentrows of panels 32 by the intervening guide rails 25.

Each of the constructions provides flexibility and versatility byaccommodating formation of any size indicia desired, and the readychange of that indicia. At the same time the device is very attractivein appearance. It will be understood that panels 32 and 36 will besupplied in kits and that these kits will include a number of blankpanels 36 to accommodate centering of the displayed information in caseswhere only a portion of the length of the unit is consumed thereby. Theblank panels also serve to space words in the sign. The individualpanels will preferably be attractive in appearance and may be formed ofmetal, plastic, formica, or other compositions, such as those commonlyused upon instrument panels in power plants and the like. The panelswill be constructed with their upper and lower edges parallel andserving as guides for sliding of the panels in the guide bars, and theupright edges of the panels will be accurately fabricated for continuousedge abutment with like panels so as to avoid gaps or spaces betweenpanels and to present a continuous surface when properly assembled.Rectangular panels are preferred but are not essential, and any othershape found suitable may be employed.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustratedand described, changes may be made in the construction within the scopeof the appended claims without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A sign comprising a pair of end members, a pair of spaced parallelrigid guide bars carried by and interconnecting said end members andeach having a longitudinal groove, one end member having a slotextending between said bars and registering with said grooves, a groupof rigid indicia-bearing panels snugly and slidably fitting in said bargrooves, and means releasably positioning said panels in said groovesincluding a bowed spring member slidably mounted in the slot of the andmember, the central portion of the spring member engaging a wall of theslot and pressing the end portions of the spring member in engagementwith the grooves to hold the spring member in selected position in edgeabutment with the end panel of said group.

2. A sign comprising a pair of end members, a pair of spaced parallelrigid guide bars carried by and interconnecting said end members andeach having a longitudinal groove, one end member having a slotextending between said bars and registering with said grooves, a groupof rigid indicia-bearing panels snugly and slidably fitting in said bargrooves, and means releasably positioning said panels in said groovesincluding an arched spring plate whose central portion is offset fromits end portions a distance greater than the spacing of a wall of saidslot laterally relative to the plane of said grooves, whereby uponinsertion of said spring plate in said slot and grooves frictionalengagement of said central spring portion with a Wall of said slot andof said spring end portions with said grooves holds said spring plate inselected position in edge abutment with the end panel of said group.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS480,255 Emmer Aug. 9, 1892 1,137,823 Wilbur May 4, 1915 1,400,666Douglas Dec. 20, 1921 1,726,869 Tatum Sept. 3, 1926 1,929,908 Weber Oct.10, 1933 2,206,281 Goeller July 2, 1940 2,575,913 Eastman Nov. 20, 19512,730,824 Cohen Jan. 17, 1956 2,759,281 Akers Aug. 21, 1956

